Firm fined £215,000 after roofer falls from cherry picker in Glasgow

A firm has been fined £215,000 for failings that led to a roofer falling from a cherry picker in Glasgow.

North Ayrshire-based McTaggart Construction Limited admitted earlier this month to breaching health and safety regulations.

Aedan Brown was left with "life changing injuries"

Aedan Brown fell 15 feet onto a car roof before landing on the pavement, after the device was struck by a double decker bus in Castlemilk in February 2022.

A report found the company hadn't ensured the 27-year-old was wearing a safety harness, and that barriers hadn't been put in place around the cherry picker.

The prosecutor told Glasgow Sheriff Court that on 4 February 2022 at a construction site on Ardencraig Road a then 27-year-old roofer was in the basket of a cherry picker (Mobile Elevated Work Platform or ‘MEWP’) which was raised to allow repairs to cladding. The operator was also in the basket.

At about midday a double-decker bus struck the “knuckle” of the cherry picker, which was protruding over the roadway. The force of the collision momentarily lifted the cherry picker onto its two rear wheels and caused its boom to slew and strike a nearby lamppost.

The roofer, who was not secured within the basket, was thrown from the basket and fell onto the roof of a parked car before falling to the pavement. He suffered severe injury and permanent impairment because of the incident.

The cherry picker operator managed to remain within the basket.

Firm failed to ensure personal protective equipment was used

The subsequent Health and Safety Executive investigation found that McTaggart Construction Limited, as principal contractor, had failed to ensure that the work being carried out at height was properly planned and that personal protective equipment was used.

There were also no suitable measures in place to effectively segregate the cherry picker from traffic.

Following the incident the company took remedial and preventative action with an overhaul of its processes and policies.

Mr Brown suffered a string of "life changing" injuries including extensive fractures to his pelvis and right hip.

He also sustained a collapsed left lung and a fractured right wrist which left him in a cast.

Mr Brown has also not worked since the day of the incident and suffers from PTSD.

McTaggart Construction "expresses regret" for failings

Barry Smith KC, defending, told the court: “Those associated with McTaggart Construction express regret that this was a terrible incident in particular that it caused serious injuries to Mr Brown.

“Full PPE should have been worn. The operator embarked with Mr Brown when he ought to have known that it was fundamental for operating such equipment.

“The court will note that McTaggarts had in place full safety measures which the investigation stated had they been followed, the incident would not have occurred.”

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